Derek Slap

State Budget Increases Education
Funding For West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD – The West Hartford legislative delegation of state Senator Derek Slap and state Representatives Jillian Gilchrest, Tammy Exum and Joe Verrengia today welcomed final passage of the 2020-2021 biennial state budget and the funding it includes for a variety of West Hartford needs, including an additional $1.161 million in Education Cost Sharing funds compared to this year’s level.

The Senate passed the budget on a 20-14 vote; it now heads to Governor Lamont for his signature into law.

The Democrat’s biennial state budget includes $21,486,317 in ECS funding for West Hartford in the 2020 fiscal year that begins July 1, and $21,873,598 in ECS funding in 2021 – increases of 1.835% and 3.67%, respectively, over West Hartford’s current year ECS funding level of $21,099,035.

The budget was approved Monday in the House and today in the Senate and now heads to Governor Lamont for his signature. For the first time in a decade, legislative Republicans did not propose any alternative state budget plans.

“The West Hartford delegation worked to ensure that West Hartford got its fair share of state funding for public education, which helps keep some of the cost burden off of local residents,” Sen. Slap said. “West Hartford is well-known for its public schools; it’s one of the reasons why our town is so attractive to young families and new home buyers. I want to do everything in my power to ensure that we continue this great traditional of excellent education in town, and this budget helps do that.”

State dollars spent on education provides some of the greatest returns of any government investment,” Rep. Verrengia said. “I am very pleased the state budget prioritizes our schools and ensures West Hartford the education resources it needs.”

“Among the many things that make West Hartford such a wonderful community are our quality public schools. This budget holds the line on spending while making significant investments in education. It reflects our values as a state and as a community,” said Rep. Gilchrest.

“I am pleased that we passed a responsible budget that allowed us to secure the necessary support for our important community programs and services. In addition, we maintained our education funding, which allows West Hartford Public Schools to continue to deliver its excellent educational program, for which it is known,” Rep. Exum said.

“I am thankful that the legislators continued to support public education with actual dollars, not just words, and did it without passing the tax burden on to local property taxes. This will help us to continue to meet the unique needs of all children in our diverse community,” said Schools Superintendent Tom Moore.

Also of note is that the Democratic state budget does not require local taxpayers to share in the cost of paying for their local teacher pensions; that cost continues to be fully picked up by the State of Connecticut.

The Democrats’ biennial state budget does not increase income, sales or corporate taxes, raises discretionary spending in its first year by a miniscule 0.3%, fully funds state pension obligations, and increases Connecticut’s budget reserve – the so-called “Rainy Day Fud” – to over $2.6 billion.